Hop on a bike or take a hike to work for Bike Walk Week, June 2-10

Minneapolis commuters can put a little joy into their commutes by trying biking or walking. Organizers of the annual Twin Cities Bike Walk Week are asking for pledges to replace at least one car trip with biking or walking during this year’s Bike Walk Week, June 2-10, in hopes that folks will develop a new, more active routine for getting around. People who already bike or walk to get around should sign up and be counted.

Last year more than 10,000 people took the Bike Walk Week pledge, choosing active transportation over car travel. They discovered the benefits, starting with better health, money saved and a healthier environment. Details and a calendar of Bike Walk Week events are online.

Postage stamp unveiling

Bike Walk to Work Day is Thursday, June 7. Commuters to downtown Minneapolis will gather at the Minneapolis Central Library where, at 11 a.m., the U.S. Postal Service will officially unveil its new bicycle stamps. Those on hand will be among the first in the country to buy these unique postage stamps.

The magazine Bicycling has ranked Minneapolis as the No. 2 bicycling city in its biennial rankings of America’s 50 Best Bike Cities.

The magazine says bicycling culture is thriving in Minneapolis and cites the launch of the Nice Ride bike-share program in 2010, which helped shift cycling from a cultural phenomenon to a community-wide initiative. Annual Nice Ride subscriptions have tripled, and daily trips doubled from 2010 to 2011. The city has also added 37 miles of bike lanes, installed four bike-boulevard corridors, and adopted its first comprehensive bicycle master plan calling for a dozen more.

The complete rankings – which appear in the July issue of Bicycling on newsstands since May 29 – have Portland, Ore. reclaiming the title of the Best Bike City in America, with Boulder, Colo. (#3), Washington D.C. (#4) and Chicago (#5) rounding out the top five.

Bike Score

Just in time for Bike Walk Week, a new bicycle-friendly ranking has placed Minneapolis at the top of 10 U.S. cities for bicyling. The Bike Score is based on bike infrastructure (lanes and trails), hills, destinations and road connectivity, and the number of bike commuters. With the addition of 37 miles of bikeways in 2011, there are now 167 miles of bikeways in Minneapolis.

Walk Score

The same initiative had already ranked Minneapolis in the top 10 of 50 most walkable cities among the largest U.S. cities. The Walk Score ranking is based on the "walkability" of any address, including how close it is to amenities such as schools, workplaces, shops and services.

Walking is free and healthy, and it doesn’t pollute. Minneapolis has nearly 1,800 miles of sidewalks, and its transportation plan includes a pedestrian plan to make it easier for people to get around on foot.

Visit the City's website for more information about bicycling and walking in Minneapolis.